Third Sunday After Epiphany
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle A
Hymns
Canticle Of Light And Darkness (UM205)
To Us A Child Of Hope Is Born (CBH189)
God Of Our Strength (CBH36)
Beneath The Cross Of Jesus (CBH250, UM297, NCH190, PH92)
In The Cross Of Christ I Glory (CBH566, UM295, NCH193--194, PH84)
Lord, You Have Come To The Lakeshore (CBH229, NCH173, PH377, UM344)
Where Cross The Crowded Ways Of Life (PH408, CBH405, UM42, NCH543)
Jesus Calls Us, O'er The Tumult (UM398, NCH171--172, CBH398)
Anthems
He Comes To Us, Jane Marshall, Carl Fischer, SATB
Creator Of The Stars Of Night, Jeffrey Honore, Augsburg, SATB, handbells
The Lord Is My Light, Michael Bedford, CGA, Unison/2--part
Sing And Rejoice With Heart And Voice, Clemens, CGA, Unison/2--part
Call to Worship
Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.
Left Side: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
Right Side: The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Leader: One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after:
All: To live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Amen.
Call to Confession
Paul tells us: "For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Let us confess our sins to the God who saves us.
Prayer of Confession
All--powerful and merciful God, the world is a crazy place, and it is often so hard for us to follow the light of your son, Jesus Christ. We want to, but we are weak. We get caught up in petty quarrels and unnecessary confusions. We are like the early Christians who constantly battled divisions among their ranks. There were so few of them, yet they had trouble coming together. Help us, God, as your church, to stop fighting among ourselves and to remember whose we are. Keep our eyes on the light, and help us to follow Jesus.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Jesus said, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Jesus is our sure sign of God's redeeming love for us. All we have to do is ask. Alleluia! We are forgiven. Amen.
Scripture Readings
All four scripture lessons are important to the theme and lend themselves to being read in creative ways. It would be important to read the Isaiah passage and the Matthew passage together, but the Psalm passage and the 1 Corinthians passages could be read dramatically.
Isaiah 9:1--4: This passage would have great dramatic impact if piano or harp music were played as it is read. Play a piece of music that begins somberly and ends very upbeat.
Psalm 27:1, 4--9: This passage can be read by an interpretive choir with four solo voices. The whole choir would read verses 1 and 9 and the other verses would be divided up between the four soloists. The choir might stand in a single file line across the front of the sanctuary with each soloist taking one step forward when it is his/her turn, and the rest of the choir stepping forward when they say the last verse together.
1 Corinthians 1:10--18: If you have a male member of the congregation who is an actor or has a dramatic flair, have him become Paul for many of your epistle readings. It can't hurt to have visits from Bible characters during the year, and this reading really lends itself to Paul talking personally to the congregation.
Matthew 4:12--23: This scripture passage lends itself well to being acted out by older elementary or middle school children. There would only be two speaking parts: the Narrator and Jesus. All other parts would simply be acted out. The cast would consist of Jesus, Narrator, four disciples, and Zebedee.
Benediction
Leader: Arise; shine, for your light has come!
People: We go out into the world with the light of Christ in our hearts.
Leader: Break the yoke of the oppressors, and proclaim the good news of the kingdom.
People: We go, renewed and refreshed, knowing that God is with us.
Canticle Of Light And Darkness (UM205)
To Us A Child Of Hope Is Born (CBH189)
God Of Our Strength (CBH36)
Beneath The Cross Of Jesus (CBH250, UM297, NCH190, PH92)
In The Cross Of Christ I Glory (CBH566, UM295, NCH193--194, PH84)
Lord, You Have Come To The Lakeshore (CBH229, NCH173, PH377, UM344)
Where Cross The Crowded Ways Of Life (PH408, CBH405, UM42, NCH543)
Jesus Calls Us, O'er The Tumult (UM398, NCH171--172, CBH398)
Anthems
He Comes To Us, Jane Marshall, Carl Fischer, SATB
Creator Of The Stars Of Night, Jeffrey Honore, Augsburg, SATB, handbells
The Lord Is My Light, Michael Bedford, CGA, Unison/2--part
Sing And Rejoice With Heart And Voice, Clemens, CGA, Unison/2--part
Call to Worship
Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.
Left Side: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
Right Side: The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Leader: One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after:
All: To live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Amen.
Call to Confession
Paul tells us: "For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Let us confess our sins to the God who saves us.
Prayer of Confession
All--powerful and merciful God, the world is a crazy place, and it is often so hard for us to follow the light of your son, Jesus Christ. We want to, but we are weak. We get caught up in petty quarrels and unnecessary confusions. We are like the early Christians who constantly battled divisions among their ranks. There were so few of them, yet they had trouble coming together. Help us, God, as your church, to stop fighting among ourselves and to remember whose we are. Keep our eyes on the light, and help us to follow Jesus.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Jesus said, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near." Jesus is our sure sign of God's redeeming love for us. All we have to do is ask. Alleluia! We are forgiven. Amen.
Scripture Readings
All four scripture lessons are important to the theme and lend themselves to being read in creative ways. It would be important to read the Isaiah passage and the Matthew passage together, but the Psalm passage and the 1 Corinthians passages could be read dramatically.
Isaiah 9:1--4: This passage would have great dramatic impact if piano or harp music were played as it is read. Play a piece of music that begins somberly and ends very upbeat.
Psalm 27:1, 4--9: This passage can be read by an interpretive choir with four solo voices. The whole choir would read verses 1 and 9 and the other verses would be divided up between the four soloists. The choir might stand in a single file line across the front of the sanctuary with each soloist taking one step forward when it is his/her turn, and the rest of the choir stepping forward when they say the last verse together.
1 Corinthians 1:10--18: If you have a male member of the congregation who is an actor or has a dramatic flair, have him become Paul for many of your epistle readings. It can't hurt to have visits from Bible characters during the year, and this reading really lends itself to Paul talking personally to the congregation.
Matthew 4:12--23: This scripture passage lends itself well to being acted out by older elementary or middle school children. There would only be two speaking parts: the Narrator and Jesus. All other parts would simply be acted out. The cast would consist of Jesus, Narrator, four disciples, and Zebedee.
Benediction
Leader: Arise; shine, for your light has come!
People: We go out into the world with the light of Christ in our hearts.
Leader: Break the yoke of the oppressors, and proclaim the good news of the kingdom.
People: We go, renewed and refreshed, knowing that God is with us.
